The School's out forever

Night Time

Engineering building

Monday

9:00 PM

Ztirf Caldwell and Marlo Vance

The moon was hidden behind thick clouds, leaving the night completely dark. Inside the room, it was just as black and silent, the air thick with tension. Chairs were piled against the door as a makeshift barricade, and backpacks lay scattered, abandoned by students who had fled in a hurry. Ztirf, still in his bloodstained uniform, sat beside Marlo, who had stripped down to a white tank top. Both sat on the floor, the cold tiles pressing into their backs, quietly strategizing their next move.

"It's too quiet outside," Ztirf whispered, his voice barely audible, his eyes flicking toward the door, as though something could break through any second.

"Yeah, too quiet," Marlo responded, glancing nervously toward the barricaded entrance. "The banging stopped, but I can still hear... footsteps. Light ones."

Ztirf's voice wavered slightly, his mind running wild. "Do you think... we're the only ones left alive here?"

Marlo shook his head, trying to suppress his own anxiety. "No way. Some are probably hiding, keeping quiet so the zombies don't hear them." He tried to sound confident, but the oppressive quiet gnawed at him.

Ztirf stood and moved to the window, peering into the inky darkness. The view was swallowed in shadows—no lights, no movement, just an endless black void. Meanwhile, Marlo rifled through the backpacks using his phone's dim flashlight, hoping for something useful. Pens, papers, books, and an old camera were all he found.

Frustrated, Marlo sighed, tossing a notebook aside. "Nothing here but junk."

But Ztirf's eyes lit up when he spotted the camera. "Wait... we can use this," he said, excitement creeping into his hushed voice.

Marlo frowned, the tension in his shoulders not easing. "A camera? For what? You think filming our last moments is a good idea?"

Ztirf shook his head, smirking. "No, idiot. We can use the books and tape to wrap our arms and legs—for protection. And this camera... it has night vision."

Marlo's skepticism faded. "Night vision? You think the zombies can't see in the dark?"

Ztirf shrugged. "I've been thinking... they're slower at night. Didn't you notice? Maybe they rely on the light to move faster." His voice was steady, though a hint of doubt crept in. "We can sneak past them while it's dark. It's worth a shot."

Marlo raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you expect us to get out? There's an army of them downstairs."

"We don't need the stairs," Ztirf replied, his tone firm.

Marlo stared at him in disbelief. "We're on the third floor. You've lost your mind."

"I saw a drainage pipe earlier," Ztirf said, pointing to the window. "We can climb down."

Marlo groaned, running a hand through his hair. "This is insane."

Ztirf's eyes were intense. "If we stay, we're dead anyway. You want to sit here until they break through that door?"

Marlo swallowed hard, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But if we die, I'm haunting you."

Ztirf chuckled nervously, though his hands shook as he began wrapping his arms and legs with books, securing them tightly with tape. The sound of the tape tearing seemed louder than ever in the silence.

Marlo did the same, muttering under his breath, "This better work."

Ztirf powered on the camera, his face breaking into a grin when the screen lit up. "Full battery."